Pune Cybercrime Alert: Retired Officer Duped of ₹6.7 Crore in Elaborate Fraud Scheme

A retired Pune officer was duped of ₹6.7 crore by fraudsters posing to repair his drainage system, highlighting rising cybercrime sophistication.

Pune| February 12, 2026: In a shocking example of evolving cybercrime tactics, a 61-year-old retired professional in Pune was defrauded of an astonishing ₹6.7 crore in a scheme carried out under the pretext of drainage repair work at his bungalow. The elaborate fraud, which unfolded over several months, has brought attention to how cybercriminals are blending offline trust with online deception to exploit unsuspecting victims.

The incident dates back to April 2024, when the retired officer’s tenant first complained of problems with the drainage line at a rented property. Responding to the tenant’s concern, the homeowner began seeking assistance from local contractors to fix the issue. What appeared to start as a routine maintenance job quickly spiralled into a prolonged and costly fraud. An individual introduced himself as a contractor and quoted a modest ₹65,000 for initial labour charges, prompting the victim to engage his services.

However, the situation escalated when the contractor claimed that the repair would involve additional work, such as shifting pipelines, relocating electrical cables, and securing permissions from various civic departments. The owner was told that fees needed to be paid to municipal officials, water authorities, and other bureaucratic channels for these corrective measures. Believing the elaborate explanations and trusting the person who had gained his confidence, the retired officer began transferring money for these supposed requirements.

Over time, the demands grew steeper. As the victim complied with repeated requests for payments, the total amount he transferred to the fraudsters eventually climbed to a staggering ₹6.7 crore. Throughout this period, the perpetrators supplied one excuse after another for the delay in completing the work, including fabricated personal tragedies and implausible technical obstacles, all designed to maintain the flow of funds and delay scrutiny.

Police investigation reveals that the fraudsters relied on social engineering techniques and manipulated the victim’s trust to sustain the scam for months. It was only after the retired officer began seeking regular updates about the drainage work and found the explanations increasingly inconsistent that he became suspicious and filed a complaint with law enforcement authorities.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Pune Police has since taken over the investigation and is working to track down the accused. Law enforcement officials have highlighted that such fraud cases are becoming more complex, with perpetrators blending traditional deception with digital channels to isolate their targets and avoid early detection.

Cybercrime experts say this case underscores the importance of verifying credentials, demanding written contracts, and consulting with multiple professionals before making large financial transfers, especially when the work involves significant sums. They also recommend verifying official permits directly with civic authorities rather than relying solely on intermediaries claiming to represent them.

This incident comes amid a broader increase in cyberfraud reports in and around Pune, including scams involving fake investment schemes, fraudulent apps, and deceptive links that prompt victims to transfer funds into fraudulent accounts. Such schemes increasingly target retirees and elderly citizens who may be less familiar with online fraud tactics but still hold significant financial assets.

Authorities advise citizens to exercise caution when dealing with unsolicited offers or contractors who request progressive payments, insist on cash transfers to private accounts, or claim that hefty fees are required for bureaucratic clearances. The proliferation of such scams has led police departments to issue public alerts and encourage residents to report suspicious approaches immediately.

The ₹6.7 crore deception also serves as a reminder of how vulnerable everyday citizens can be to financial fraud when criminals exploit personal trust and fabricate elaborate pretences. As the investigation continues, Pune’s law enforcement agencies are urging people to stay vigilant and educate friends and family about common scam indicators.

In conclusion, the case spotlights how cybercrime and fraud have evolved far beyond simple online threats, now merging with real-world interactions to create deeply damaging schemes. Preventing such incidents will require public awareness, stronger verification practices, and cooperation between victims and authorities to dismantle these sophisticated fraud networks.

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